23andMe CEO on the future of genomics

Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe co-founder and CEO, speaks onstage during Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 9, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Kimberly White/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, single-handedly transformed science and medicine. Thanks to DNA sequencing technology we are learning more about human health than ever before, gaining insight into complex diseases and unlocking mysteries about human evolution and ancestry.

Anne Wojcicki, founder and CEO of 23andMe, is one of the pioneers in the booming genomics industry. Wojcicki's company was the first to bring genetic testing to the home frontier with her direct-to-consumer DNA testing kits. While 23andMe has run into its fair share of challenges, the company seeks to empower the public and change the way we think about our health and genetic makeup.

For $99, a 23andMe genetic test promises to reveal ancestral information and raw, unprocessed DNA data. The company says it is also capable of analyzing a person's risk of some 250 conditions and diseases; however, since 2013, the FDA has barred the company from offering DNA tests for health purposes.

CBS News spoke with Wojcicki about how genomics will continue to shape research and medicine. This interview has been condensed and edited.

For those who aren't familiar with your company, can you tell us a little about its purpose?

If you look at our mission statement it's about making sure that the genome is accessible, understandable and that individuals can benefit from the human genome. We fought hard to enable the low-cost, direct-access for a consumer. The next big phase is really about benefiting from the human genome. The reason why we started this company was the research component and the fundamental belief that by really understanding the human genome we will be able to make significant improvements in quality of life, have a novel approach to therapeutics and eventually understand and detect diseases earlier.

Are you continuing to publish your research in major academic journals?

We definitely continue to publish and we will definitely continue to do research. We recognize very clearly that the genome is new and that it's important for us to understand what the impact is on the individual who is getting this data, and how can we actually best deliver that information. That's one thing that we pride ourselves on -- really being experts in understanding how to communicate complicated genetic information.

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23andMe CEO on the future of genomics